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The oNeTRAK Manual

The oNeTRAK Manual

The oNeTRAK Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ONETRAK

2

oNeTRAK layout at Adliswil 2000 Convention

MODULES/LAYOUT SAMPLES

15

This is the track plan of the Dease Lake &
Northern,  which  proved  to  be  a  real  show
stopper during the 2000 Adliswil Convention.
While  all  elements  follow  oNeTRAK
specifications,  they  were  designed  to  suit
this  configuration  and  the  landscape  flows
smoothly from one module to the next. Such
a  layout  is  not  expected  to  see  fast  trains
looping.  The  main  attraction  is  the  barge
operation  over  a  lake  made  of  real  water.
Operations  follow  time  table  and  waybill
instructions.  Several  industries  are  served
and cars are swapped with another railroad
symbolized by the tracks on the interchange
at the left side of the layout.

INDEX

Page

Specifications ........................... 3
Basic module ............................ 4
Offset and corner modules ....... 5
DCC wiring tips ......................... 6
Analog wiring tips ..................... 7
Switch Wiring Tips .................... 8
Main line junction ...................... 9
Branch line junction ................ 10
oNeTRAK junction .................. 11
Operational tips ...................... 12
Modules/Layout samples .. 13-15
Connections/Distribution ......... 16

DEFINITION

oNeTRAK is an NTRAK compatible
single-track  branch  line  that  can
augment NTRAK layouts.

MAIN GOALS

1.

Lightweight,  simple  to  build

modules, especially for beginners or
those with limited transport capability.

2.

Provide  an  alternative  to  three

track modules that can be connected
to  an  NTRAK  layout.  Connected
layouts encourage team building and
enhance fun!

3.

Easy home layout integration

4.

Extend  the  NTRAK  Red  Line

Route at shows

5.

Provide a branch line for more

prototypical operations.

6.

Provide  an  easy  way  to  model

scenes with single track and tighter
curves.

7.

Provides a section of the layout

for  serious  switching  operations
when the rest of the layout is running
lots of trains to hold the attention of
spectators.

INTEGRATION

oNeTRAK modules can be used to
build  stand  alone  layouts  with
emphasis  on  operation  or  can  be
connected  with  an  NTRAK  layout
using  junction  modules  either  to
lengthen  the  “Red  Line  Route”  as
seen on the sketch below or to have
a branch line with sparse traffic. As
the module design should permit both
uses,  all  relevant  standards  for  a
conventional  NTRAK  module  must
be met by any oNeTRAK module.

ELECTRICAL ISSUES

NTRAK  layouts  in  general  and
oNeTRAK modules in particular may
be  operated  using  conventional
analog  technology  or  digital  DCC
equipment. A module should conform
to both requirements even if its builder
or owner only intends to use it in one
of the two modes.

ADDRESSES

Bernard C. Kempinski
1801 N. Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311-1772
USA
bkempins@ida.org

C. Matt Schaefer
4301 Starr Jordan Drive
Annandale, VA 22003
USA
ntrak@erols.com

Simon Ginsburg
Letzigraben 49
CH-8003 Zürich
Switzerland
ntrak@freesurf.ch

Summary of Contents for oNeTRAK

Page 1: ...ththemanualandsketches for interface modules are to be published soon on the Internet Operations usually follow prototypical schemes but might be loop style on occasion Module geometry is more strict...

Page 2: ...l operations 6 Provide an easy way to model scenes with single track and tighter curves 7 Provides a section of the layout for serious switching operations when the rest of the layout is running lots...

Page 3: ...rements 8 CLOSING LOOP LAYOUTS Due to the wide variety of frame sizes and locations of tracks some gaps may develop in a loop layout Most large loops should be flexible enough to close a gap by scrunc...

Page 4: ...mps required The basic module construction follows NTRAK specifications Every module is to have four legs and be free standing to simplify setup and teardown Modules can have a 1 layer of Styrofoam as...

Page 5: ...side male and female The polarity of the second set must be switched in order to be right when the module is used with the wrong side Corner modules may be built as 3 x3 or 4 x4 Minimum radius must be...

Page 6: ...Boosters Do not use standard DC power packs of anytypetosupplyPowerBoosters Alwaysensure the power supply is capable of producing at least the rated power output of the Power Booster it is supplying...

Page 7: ...the layout can be used to allow usage of the same throttle while passing other trains By using radio controlled throttles for left and right global an engineer will be able to walk along his train an...

Page 8: ...e I as there cannot be a short when approaching a closed turnout Schemes III and V are mainly for reverse loop or wye wiring Special care must be taken that under no circumstances do two power supplie...

Page 9: ...to one track transition module These Junction modules have been around for quiteawhileandhavebeenmainlyusedtolinktwo divisions redlinemakingupwhatNorthernVirginia NTRAK called the Red Line Route When...

Page 10: ...ance on the left side by having the first module to the left included in the stop block as well A tower operator will then ensure the crash free passage of the trains by aligning the turnouts cutting...

Page 11: ...otypeGordonsvillehasbeen an important rail junction since the 1850s when the Orange and Alexandriamadeaconnectionthere with the Virginia Central The prototype track plan at Gordonsvilleisrelativelysim...

Page 12: ...ration uses his own cars exclusively 5 Prototypical operation needs a vast number of people One single engineer per train is fine when the scheme is very simple and the engineer has some experience Wh...

Page 13: ...Lake Saskatchewan CA Bernard Kempinski s 14 feet long by 18 Inches wide provides room for a long Passing Siding CP321 VA Dave Davies oNeTRAK to NTRAK Adapter Module used as a lead to a NTRAK yard Baxt...

Page 14: ...foot front or back for a total maximum width of three feet 3 MODULE INTERFACESame as NTRAK with one clamp and the stan main has no impact on the loop of modules and is not important but generally the...

Page 15: ...trains looping The main attraction is the barge operation over a lake made of real water Operations follow time table and waybill instructions Several industries are served and cars are swapped with...

Page 16: ...d soon on the Internet FREMO FREMO is a group which is mainly based in Germany with some activists in other European countries There are standards for several scales and some of them HO are specalized...

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